Sunday, January 26, 2014

Popping in for our big news this weekend...Clare made her First Reconciliation on Saturday morning! We are so proud of how she prepared herself for the sacrament. (She has been practicing the Act of Contrition every night since the last day of 1st grade - maybe too much because last night Ellen prayed it saying: "Oh my God I am heartly sorry for having offended anyone named Clare.")

On Saturday morning, Clare wore the same bracelet she wore on her Baptism - a gift from my parents that has a cross and miraculous medal on it. Each child was given a book about Reconciliation to complete after they had been to confession. The prayer that Clare wrote said, "I felt so happy when I left confession. I want to go back again!"

Friday, January 24, 2014

Ellen has a habit of playing with things in pairs. A mother and a daughter combination, one big and one small. Any small object needs a mother and any large object needs a child. And when I say things I mean anything... Here are some combinations I found around the house this week...

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

We have another snow day today and I had requests at 10 AM for our current favorite snack - popcorn. Instead of making it on the stove, I made it quick and in a smaller portion for Jude in the microwave. Less mess and a bit healthier than cooking with oil.

I put 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels in a brown lunch bag. Close the bag by folding over the top a few times. Then, for our microwave, I pop it for 2 minutes. Add on salt and our favorite white cheddar, and it's good to go!

My 3 month old nephews introduced Michael to these balls while we were in town over Christmas and he loved them. Once we were back home I headed to Target and picked one up for Michael. They are the perfect size/shape and easy for even a 3 month old to play with. We have several big Oball fans in our family!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

I cannot believe this baby boy is 2 months away from his 1st birthday! It seems like it was just yesterday I was starring down at my big belly wondering when he was going to make his debut! Michael has been a bit more daring lately and is starting to pull himself up onto the bottom step and has also made his way into the cabinets more than once. And so the "fun" really begins!

And his fans love his "model" pose...

Weight: 23 lbs., 2 oz.

Height: 29 inches

Eating: Thinks he is a big boy eating more table foods and feeding himself. Especially loves breakfast time. (Maybe because he is perched in the high chair with a good view of the morning action.)

Monday, January 6, 2014

We are part of the snowpocalyspe that has hit the US of A. (So much that our Christmas break is continuing an extra day today...) A friend sent us this Ice Cream Snow recipe and we made it after dinner last night. Jude gave it 2 bouncing thumbs up (a sign he really really likes something). And making it broke our cabin fever for a few minutes!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Happy Friday! (At least I think - these mid-week holidays have my internal clock confused!) Playing a late night catch-up with Jen...

1. Before Christmas break, Jude received the coveted "Sunshine Award" in music class. He was VERY excited to share the news when he got in the car that day after school. Although from the teacher's comment (and from his reenactment), I'm wondering if his sleigh bell ringing was similar to the cow bell...

2. Moving onto child #3... Lately Ellen has been saying the Act of Contrition in the morning before breakfast in place of Grace. A slight foreshadowing that it will be needed for the day ahead...

sharing my morning coffee

3. And now news about #4... Over the past week Mr. Michael has begun to move vertically and not just horizontally. He's propped himself up on the bottom step several times and has also made his way into cabinets a few times now. And so the fun begins!

4. We've seen a fair share of snow so far this winter. And I'm beginning to think my kids' obsession with eating snow is borderline unhealthy. One big snowfall (about 8+ inches) happened about 12 hours after Ryan had knee surgery a few weeks ago. Our good friends thoughtfully offered to help shovel our driveway. Ryan joked that our kids could probably eat enough of the snow to clear the driveway - similar to ants lifting 50 times their body weight, our kids could probably eat 50 times their weight in snow. (Don't worry - I did the shoveling and no children or ants were harmed in doing so.)

5. With the fresh start of a new year (and with new Christmas goodies in our home) I'm copying off of my sister and have embarked on a 30 bags in 30 days mission. So it's day 3 and I have 4 bags for Goodwill, 1 bag of treasure chest donations for the classroom (that Clare and Jude are NOT students in!), and 2 bags in the trash. I love a good purge!

6. And of course I am very much looking forward to Downton on Sunday night!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The 6 of us celebrated with friends (and cousins!) and still made it home by 10PM. :)

We were out of town for Christmas (enjoying new baby cousins!), so things are slowly getting back to normal around here. Gifts have found new homes, laundry is mostly caught up, and the fridge and pantry are restocked (as best I can when Jude is home from school). I have my new calendars and have been penciling in all the important dates we have this year...from Michael's 1st Birthday in March (-sniff-) to Clare's First Communion in May. Looking forward to what lies ahead! Many wishes for a Happy 2014!

Hello my name is...

I have been married for 9 years to a husband that makes me laugh everyday. I stay at home with our 4 kiddos and spend my days folding laundry, filling sippy cups, and thinking of ways to make our house a home. My husband will tell you my one weakness is a bag of oreos...and I would have to agree!